The name Himalaya means “abode of snow” in Sanskrit.
It comes from the Sanskrit words hima, meaning “snow,” and ālaya, meaning “dwelling” or “abode.” The name reflects the extensive snow and ice found across the range, especially at its highest elevations.
The Himalayas stretch across several countries in Asia, including Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and China. They contain many of the world’s highest mountains and separate the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau.
“Himalaya” is singular in Sanskrit usage, although English commonly treats “the Himalayas” as a plural mountain range. The name is sometimes confused with “Himalayan,” which is the adjective used for the mountains, landscapes, peoples and ecosystems associated with the range.